Bhopal disaster

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The Bhopal disaster is the largest industrial accident in human history. On December 2nd and 3rd, a massive leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from a chemical plant owned and run by the Union Carbide company resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people. The official death toll rests at 3,787 [1] however data collected by outside agencies have put the death toll from gas exposure at the time of the event and in the time following at closer to 8,000 people. A government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately 3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries [2].

Civil and criminal cases are pending in the United States District Court, Manhattan and the District Court of Bhopal, India, involving Union Carbide and Union Carbide India Limited employees, as well as prosecution of Warren Anderson, who was acting CEO of Union Carbide at the time of the disaster.[3] In June 2010, seven ex-employees, including the former chairman of Union Carbide India, were convicted in Bhopal of causing death by negligence and sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of about $2,000 each, the maximum punishment allowed by law. An eighth former employee was also convicted, but died before judgment was passed.[4]

The Leak

In November 1984, most of the safety systems were not functioning. Tank 610 contained 42 tons of methyl isocyanate, much more than safety rules allowed.[5] During gas emission, a large amount of water entered tank 610. A runaway reaction started, which was accelerated by contaminants, high temperatures and other factors. The reaction generated a major increase in the temperature inside the tank to over 400 °F. This forced the emergency venting of pressure from the methyl isocyanate holding tank, releasing a large volume of toxic gases. It is known that workers cleaned pipelines with water and were not told by the supervisor to add a special tool to prevent water from backing up into other areas of the system. Because of this, and the bad maintenance, the workers consider it possible for water to have accidentally entered the methyl isocyanate tank.[6]

References

  1. http://www.mp.gov.in/bgtrrdmp/relief.htm
  2. http://www.first14.com/bhopal-gas-tragedy-92-injuries-termed-minor-822.html
  3. http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/company-defends-chief-in-bhopal-disaster/
  4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8725140.stm
  5. Eckerman (2004)
  6. Eckerman (2004)